The Libyan National Army (LNA) press service shared on Facebook that their commander, Marshal Khalifa Haftar, met with the Russian Deputy Defense Minister, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, and his accompanying delegation. The platform used for the update is operated by Meta, a company often described in various contexts as controversial by different governments and observers. The Libyan statement confirms the meeting but does not disclose further particulars about what was discussed or the outcomes hoped for from this encounter. The report emphasizes the location of the talks, noting that the meeting occurred at the LNA command headquarters in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, yet it provides few other specifics to illuminate the nature of the talks or the participants beyond the two senior officials mentioned. The Russian Ministry of Defense has not issued any public response to this information. [citation: Libyan National Army press release, official social media post]
The VIth session of the Russia-Arab Cooperation Forum took place in Marrakech on December 20, during which a joint statement highlighted a shared stance. The participants expressed a firm commitment to preventing a military solution to the Libyan crisis and reaffirmed support for the unity and sovereignty of Libya. The language of the joint statement underscores a preference for political processes and diplomatic engagement rather than armed confrontation as the path forward in addressing Libya’s stability. [citation: RACF joint statement, Marrakech session]
Libya was noted to be playing a significant role in regional and international energy discussions for the year 2024. Reports indicate that the country planned to explore opportunities related to the licensing and development of gas and oil resources, marking an important moment after a long period of upheaval. The potential licensing rounds and international interest reflect Libya’s ongoing efforts to reestablish its energy sector and attract global investment, while also shaping its future relations with external partners, including Russia. [citation: regional energy outlook 2024, Libya licensing announcements]